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Re: Sweet Jesus: Should Jordan Sweet be our first ruck?
I know, hence the full disclosure statement. English has definitely raised his stoppage game in 2023, even if he still falls short on occasions against the really big dogs like Witts (I was very disappointed an old-school clydesdale like Lycett got a hold of him on the weekend).
Perhaps Melbourne also asked the wrong question in the off-season by cashing their chips on getting an elite available 1st ruck/occasional forward to compliment their already existing elite 1st ruck/occasional forward in 2023.
Perhaps Freo also asked the wrong question in the off-season, when they spent heavily on a player who might be 1st ruck but maybe a 2nd ruck (definitely not much of an occasional key forward) to compliment their existing elite 1st ruck of a similar age profile. Whatever Jackson ultimately ends up being, he was a pretty effective 1st/2nd/whatever stoppage ruck in the last 8 minutes of the 3rd qtr of the 2021 GF
It's fun to wildly hypothesise. It won't be so much fun if Grundy gets on the premiership dais in 2023 and Melbourne win another farken flag. Although that would be slightly more fun than the Collingwood filth winning another flag, especially as they are paying for the privilege of Grundy being kitted out in the red and blue."Look at me mate. Look at me. I'm flyin'"Comment
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Re: Sweet Jesus: Should Jordan Sweet be our first ruck?
Delving even deeper into the hindsight box, Casboult was considered something of a joke a couple of years ago as a key forward/occasional 2nd ruck option - Casboult doesn't lose anything in 2023 compared to Lobb. His current team also has Chol unable to break into the side - Chol has talent as a 2nd ruck/forward but he enjoys body contact about as much the Lonie brothers (English looks like Glenn Archer in comparison to Chol).
It's all hindsight and what-ifs. We simply need English to continue raising his game and become an elite 1st ruck/stoppage ruck (he's not consistently there yet IMO) if we are to contend for a flag during the rest of the Bont era IMO. He's made undeniable strides in 2023, and that is from one of his biggest critics as a stoppage ruckman. He still has a way to go but 2023 is clearly better than his stoppage ruck work against the best for the previous 4 years from 2019-2022, which were incredibly costly at the worst possible times, a price Bevo and the MC were obviously ready and willing to pay in order to fast-track English's development as a 1st ruck for the 2nd half of his career.
English is hands-down the most important player on our list for the next 5 years. If he continues to improve and become a consistently bankable week-to-week top 2-3 stoppage ruckman in the competition (I don't care about clearance stats, he cannot let a dinosaur like Lycett dominate him at stoppages ever again), we win a flag (or more) in the next 5 years IMO. If he flatlines (or leaves), we are toast as a premiership threat - that's how important he is. It is a brutally harsh assessment on Tim but it's the truth - he needs to continue raising his stoppage game and justifying the unwavering faith Bevo has had in him as a 1st/stoppage ruck, or we are also-rans and will have wasted the rest of the Bont years.
Who helps English become that consistent and bankable 1st/stoppage ruck we desperately need? Is it Lobb? Sometimes it has been but nowhere near often enough IMO? Could it be Sweet? It would require significant structure changes across the board with no guarantee of any success (I'd give it a crack for 2-3 weeks just to evaluate, especially if Lobb continues to give virtually nothing in either role he was specifically traded in to do). Could it be Darcy? Maybe in 2025-30.Last edited by Sedat; 14-06-2023, 04:50 PM."Look at me mate. Look at me. I'm flyin'"Comment
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Re: Sweet Jesus: Should Jordan Sweet be our first ruck?
Very good observation @sedat on Casboult and Chol.
thats what I don't get, why there was no love for these journeymen from their original club - Casboult even Witts.
Yeah I get the Witts had Fraser ( incridbly end up at the same club) and Grundy to contend against.
They offer incredible value as a money ball pick.
Casboult is an outstanding mark. Maligned for his kicking but after he had a few seasons with Anthony Rocca seemed to iron that out. Maybe the Carlton hyperbole got to him.
Is there anyone in the AFL system that fits this criteria ... not loved or appreciated by their club? I have a feeling Silvagni could fit that criteria.Comment
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Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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Re: Sweet Jesus: Should Jordan Sweet be our first ruck?
I just want to get this thread to 200 posts in a day.
Rocco Jones you are my new hero!!
(Well - you were my old hero and now you have regained hero status! A man who knows what the people want!)What should I tell her? She's going to ask.Comment
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Re: Sweet Jesus: Should Jordan Sweet be our first ruck?
Unrelated but I'd like to request Jordon Sweet in the 2023 Rocco Jones Norm Smith Sweep. Thank you.
In the unlikely event he is unavailable, I will shotgun the best ruck in the grand final (who we will all know that Jordon Sweet would be better than if he was just given a chance). Thank you.Comment
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Re: Sweet Jesus: Should Jordan Sweet be our first ruck?
I don't think you should close this thread G I am enjoying the discussion,both serious and banter."It's over. It's all over."Comment
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